UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – After dropping the first game of the doubleheader in the final inning, the Penn State softball team (23-26, 6-11 Big Ten) rallied to defeat Bucknell (26-19) in walk-off fashion in game two to split the series Wednesday evening at Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field.
"I am really proud with how our kids fought back game two and that is all that matters, how they respond," said head coach Amanda Lehotak. "Game one in the doubleheader continues to be the thorn in our side and we are working on it. I am really proud with how we had a lot of contributions offensively and how our kids never gave up. I thought Destiny Weber had a career day today. Toni Polk had a huge home run and Meghan Williams having the game-winning hit. I am really happy for her for her senior year."
Game 1: Penn State 2, Bucknell 4
Penn State kept Bucknell off the board for the first half of the first game of the doubleheader series before the visiting Bison tied the game in the sixth and took advantage of defensive errors in the seventh for the victory.
Freshman left-handed pitcher Bailey Parshall struck out six in the contest to crack Penn State's top-10 single-season strikeout list with 165 on the season.
The first two innings were quiet for both teams, with junior Destiny Weber registering a lone hit in the bottom of the second.
Penn State took the board in the next inning for a 2-0 lead after three thanks to a Toni Polk triple and a squeeze bunt by Claire Swedberg.
The Bison stayed in the game with a triple and squeeze bunt of their own in the top of the fifth to cut the Nittany Lions' lead to one after five innings of play before tying the game in the sixth with a solo home run.
Bucknell then capitalized on three Penn State errors in the top of the seventh to score two runs for the eventual 4-2 winning score.
Weber went 2-for-3 in the outing but was stranded both times.
Game 2: Penn State 9, Bucknell 8
Penn State didn't let a disappointing end to the first half of the doubleheader defeat them, however, as the team rallied for a walk-off win by senior Meghan Williams to split the series with Bucknell.
Junior Destiny Weber had a career game, going 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBI.
Just like in game one, Penn State was first on the scoreboard with a strong opening frame. Toni Polk drew a lead-off walk before three doubles in a row by Chelsea Bisi, Weber and Tori Dubois brought two runs across for the 2-0 lead after one.
Bucknell responded in the next half inning with four consecutive hits to tie the game at two.
The Bison then took the lead in the top of the third and extended it to a 5-2 advantage in the top of the fourth.
The Nittany Lions rallied to take back the lead in the bottom half of the frame, scoring five runs on four hits for the 7-5 score after four.
It started with a solo shot over the scoreboard in left field by Weber, her third home run of the season. A single by Williams and then a double from freshman Ally Kurland put runners in scoring position for Dani Fey to bat one run in.
With two outs, Melina Livingston was hit by pitch to put runners on the corner before Polk came to the plate and blasted a three-run home run way out of the park for the home team lead.
Both teams added a run in the sixth to keep it a two-run game, with Penn State's score a solo home run by Bisi.
Bucknell made things interesting, scoring two runs on three hits in the top of the final frame to tie the game at 8-8.
Weber was able to draw a walk in the bottom of the seventh with classmate Christa Wagner replacing her to run with one out. Dubois then reached on a fielder's choice while Wagner advanced to second after a Bucknell fielding error before both runners advanced on a passed ball to give Penn State runners in scoring position.
Williams then hit a perfect ball to the right field corner to score the runner and give Penn State its 23rd win of the season.
Williams finished 2-for-4 with a RBI in her first game since March 30.
On Deck
Penn State returns to Big Ten play for the final two weekends of the regular season, first traveling to Ann Arbor, Mich. to face No. 22 Michigan, April 26-28. The three-game series starts Friday at 6 p.m. and continues Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
Game Notes:
- With three home runs in game two, Penn State recorded its 12th multi-home run game of the season and is up to 45 total home runs.
- Penn State also has four games this season where multiple home runs have been hit in the same inning.
- Senior Toni Polk and freshman Chelsea Bisi continue to pace the Nittany Lions with 12 home runs each, tying the No. 4 spot on Penn State's single-season home run record with Shannon Salsburg (1995).
- Destiny Weber was one single away from hitting the cycle in game two, with a double, triple and home run in the contest for a career-best day.
- Penn State is 21-6 when scoring at least three runs.
- Lefty Bailey Parshall is up to 165 strikeouts on the season, enough for No. 10 in the program's single-season strikeout list. She passed Lisa Akamine who struck out 162 in 2010 to crack the top-10.
- Penn State is up to 23 wins this season, tying the season-win total of the 2017 season.